Pallab Sengupta
The All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation completes seventy-five years of a glorious journey devoted to the cause of world peace, anti-imperialist solidarity, democracy and human dignity. This milestone is not merely an occasion for celebration; it is also a moment for reflection, reaffirmation and renewed commitment to the ideals that inspired its foundation in 1951 on 14th May.
AIPSO proudly inherits the finest traditions of India’s anti-colonial freedom struggle. Our national liberation movement taught generations of Indians that the struggle for freedom cannot be waged in isolation. The fight against colonialism and oppression anywhere in the world is inseparably linked with the struggle for justice, equality and independence everywhere. International solidarity, therefore, became an integral part of the democratic and progressive consciousness of independent India.
The birth of AIPSO took place in a historic international context. The defeat of fascism in the Second World War, the heroic sacrifices of the Soviet Union, the emergence of socialist countries, and the growing global movement against nuclear weapons created a powerful aspiration for peace across the world. The horrifying destruction caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki exposed the barbarity of nuclear warfare and strengthened the determination of peace-loving people to prevent another world catastrophe. At the same time, colonial peoples in Asia, Africa and Latin America were rising in revolt against imperialist domination.
It was in this atmosphere that eminent patriots, intellectuals, artists and political leaders came together to form the All India Peace Council in 1951, which later evolved into the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation in 1972. Distinguished personalities such as Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, Aruna Asaf Ali, Ajoy Ghosh, A. K. Gopalan, D. D. Kosambi, Balraj Sahni, Prithviraj Kapoor, V. K. Krishna Menon and Mulk Raj Anand were among those who helped lay the foundation of this historic movement.
Over the decades, AIPSO emerged as one of the strongest peace and solidarity movements in India. It consistently stood on the side of oppressed peoples and national liberation struggles across the globe. AIPSO mobilised massive solidarity in support of the heroic Vietnamese people during their struggle against US aggression. It supported the liberation struggle of Bangladesh, raised its voice against imperialist aggression on Cuba, stood firmly with the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, supported the struggle of the Saharawi people, and extended unwavering solidarity to the Palestinian people in their just struggle for an independent homeland. Even today, AIPSO continues to campaign for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and opposes the US blockade against Cuba for peace and friendship among nations, particularly among the countries of South Asia.
Among the towering personalities, the founding member of AIPSO, Romesh Chandra, occupies a special place. As Chairman of the World Peace Council, Romesh Chandra played an extraordinary role in expanding and strengthening the international peace movement during some of the most difficult decades of the Cold War. Under his leadership, the World Peace Council became a powerful platform uniting millions across continents against imperialist wars, colonial occupation, racism and nuclear weapons. His tireless efforts linked the cause of peace with the struggles for national liberation, social justice and economic sovereignty. He inspired generations of activists in India and abroad and significantly contributed to enhancing the prestige and influence of the Indian peace movement internationally.
Today, seventy-five years after its foundation, AIPSO continues to grow in strength and relevance. The organisation has consistently raised issues concerning peace, democracy, secularism, environmental protection, social justice and the rights of oppressed peoples. Its conventions, seminars, solidarity campaigns and mass mobilisations reflect the continuing vitality of the movement.
At the same time, the contemporary world presents grave and unprecedented challenges. Despite advances in science and technology, humanity continues to suffer from war, hunger, inequality and exploitation. Imperialist interventions, military alliances and aggressive wars threaten global peace. Nuclear weapons continue to endanger human civilisation. Economic domination and the race for control over resources have intensified conflicts across regions. Racism, communalism, religious fundamentalism and majoritarian politics are poisoning societies and undermining democratic institutions.
India too faces serious challenges in the present period. The secular fabric of our society is under strain from divisive and communal forces. Constitutional values of democracy, equality, federalism and social justice are increasingly under attack. Hate politics seeks to divide people on religious and caste lines. Economic inequalities are widening while the rights of workers, peasants and marginalised communities are being eroded. In such a situation, the task of strengthening AIPSO acquires even greater urgency.
The defence of peace today cannot be separated from the defence of democracy, secularism and constitutional values. AIPSO must therefore broaden and deepen its activities among all sections of society, especially among the youth. It must build wider unity of peace-loving, democratic and patriotic forces against communal hatred, authoritarianism, militarism and imperialist aggression. The ideals enshrined in the Constitution of India — justice, liberty, equality and fraternity — must be defended with renewed determination.
The history of AIPSO demonstrates that people united around the cause of peace and solidarity can influence the course of events. The organisation’s seventy-five-year journey is a testimony to the enduring strength of internationalism and collective action. In an era marked by violence, intolerance and growing global instability, the message of peace, solidarity and cooperation becomes more relevant than ever before.
On this historic anniversary, we pay homage to all those who built and nurtured this movement through decades of sacrifice and struggle. Their legacy inspires us to carry forward the banner of peace, democracy and human emancipation.
Let the 75th anniversary of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation become a renewed call to action. Let peace-loving people across India unite to strengthen this historic movement so that together we may defend our Constitution, preserve the secular and democratic fabric of our society, oppose imperialism and war, and work for a world founded on peace, justice, solidarity and human happiness.
